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Furazolidone-induced pulmonary hypersensitivity.

Author(s): Kowalski TJ, Henry MJ, Zlabek JA

Affiliation(s): Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Kowalski.Todd@Mayo.edu

Publication date & source: 2005-02, Ann Pharmacother., 39(2):377-9. Epub 2005 Jan 11.

Publication type: Case Reports

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of pulmonary hypersensitivity associated with furazolidone use and review the literature on this topic. CASE SUMMARY: A 43-year-old white female presented with fever and dyspnea. She had recently completed a course of furazolidone 125 mg 4 times daily for 10 days for enteritis. Investigations revealed bibasilar interstitial infiltrates on chest X-ray, hypoxia, and 21% eosinophilia. Her fever, hypoxia, and dyspnea rapidly abated following discontinuation of furazolidone and administration of corticosteroids. DISCUSSION: Furazolidone is a bactericidal agent used to treat infectious enteropathies. It is chemically similar to nitrofurantoin, which is well known to cause pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions. Application of the Naranjo probability scale suggests that a furazolidone adverse reaction in this patient was probable. A MEDLINE search from 1966 to October 2004 revealed 2 previously reported cases suggestive of furazolidone pulmonary hypersensitivity. All published reports closely resemble each other and descriptions of nitrofurantoin-associated pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Furazolidone may induce pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions; clinicians should be aware of this potentially serious adverse effect.

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